I just recently attended a workshop – the last of a six-part series geared toward newer designers in the industry. This last session was on networking. When the guest speaker asked what came to mind when we all thought of networking, some replies were “lots of people in suits,”  “business cards,” “LinkedIn” and as may come to mind for many, “anxiety.” It seems like the fear of the unknown presents itself when one thinks of networking events. However, no matter how much you may dread attending a networking event, nine times out of 10, as I learned today, people felt positive about attending in the end.

What I also learned from this workshop were some tips to help you think more positively about networking:

1. Make a goal of making at least one new connection. This could be someone you know will be attending that you’ve wanted to introduce yourself to for awhile, or it could be someone you come across for the first time at the event.
2. Have a “pocketbook of ammunition” ready—a few questions you can ask whomever you meet that can turn into a conversation.
3. Know your brand—what makes you stand out from the others. This could be a great smile (example used in workshop), your confidence, etc.
4. Generosity. Another person facilitating the workshop posed the question “What is the single word that is the secret to success?” The answer (you guessed it): generosity. What may be most memorable about a person throughout his or her career is how far he or she will go to help others succeed. This lends itself toward generous networking. The most memorable thing about a person is generosity. Your generous actions will go far in the minds of those you impact. Some of the ways in which people are generously networking is through introducing people to each other who then form a new working relationship.

Networking is a very powerful thing and has gotten many of us where we are today.

Some questions I pose to you:

-          What successes in your career can be attributed to networking?

-          Do social media networking sites offer the same capabilities as networking in person?

BRAVO … CONGRATULATIONS … WAY TO GO … and all of the other inspiring & admirable accolades that go along with achieving such an awesome milestone of being in business for 20 years.  In addition to the “blood, sweat and tears” that went into forming, nurturing and sustaining IDO Incorporated over all of these years, you, Jill, have created a lot of fond memories, as well as have provided hope, dreams and happiness for a lot of our IDO families!!  It’s been an incredible ride, and I have only been here for 10 of the 20 years.  I am so looking forward to the next 20!!!   From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU, Jill … thank you very much!

As you know by now, one of my BLOGS just wouldn’t be complete without my referencing The Beatles in some form or fashion … so as not to disappoint anyone, I wanted to share a Lennon/McCartney song that seems to have been written just for you, Jill … and a few of the lines go something like this:

 “It was twenty years ago today,
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play
They’ve been going in and out of style
But they’re guaranteed to raise a smile.
So may I introduce to you
The act you’ve known for all these years,”

            IDO Incorporated

“We hope you will enjoy the show,
Sit back and let the evening go.
You’re such a lovely audience,
We’d like to take you home with us,
We’d love to take you home.
I don’t really want to stop the show, …”

Since I am having so much fun with this BLOG entry, I thought I would piggy back on Janet’s Blog from earlier this week and fast forward to 2012; just to share some current event benchmarks of what has happened in 2012.  A look at today’s news reveals:

• Superbowl XLVI was won by Peyton Manning’s “little brother” Eli and the New York Giants
• Barack Obama is President of the United States.
• The Mall of America is still going strong.
• Euro Disney fizzled.
• The Summer Olympics will be held in London,England(GO Reece Humphrey, a former LNHS Wrestler trying to earn a spot on the US Olympic Wrestling Team)
• A gallon of gas cost $3.13 … no, $3.23 …. no, $3.37 … no, $3.19 … wait, what day is today?
• Popular musicians include: Adele, Foo Fighters, LMFAO, and Taylor Swift to name a few…
• Popular films include:  Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace in 3D, The Vow, Safehouse, The Iron Lady
• The movie star and singer of ‘popular’ 1992 movie, The Bodyguard, Whitney Houston, suddenly and sadly passed away this past weekend …
• A “nickel candy bar” in 1992  was 69 cents and now it costs $ .99

Congratulations to Jill and the entire IDO family on its 20^th Anniversary ~ 02/14/2012!

In pondering IDO’s, 20^th Anniversary which just happens to be this month, February 14, 2012, I am reminded of a recent article I read in Inc. Magazine by a fellow small business owner, René Shimada Siegel, the title; “I broke these 6 business rules.  Why you should, too.”   Rene speaks of 6 rules she broke in running her business.  I must confess, I too have broken all six.

The first:

1.  Never Work With Friends and Family.  The first person I hired was a friend I met at church back in 1995.  Julie Knight.  Julie remains one of IDO’s most talented, loyal and valuable associates today.  Julie and I connected immediately one spring morning as we talked about our careers, kids and family after attending Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church on Indy’s south side.  The fact is, Julie has not been the only friend and/or family to play an important role in IDO’s business over the years.  More importantly, I think of all our IDO associates the same way I think of all my close friends and family.  All trusted individuals who have my utmost respect and gratitude for their service.

2. Get an MBA.  As Rene notes; Steve Jobs, Walt Disney and Mark Zuckerberg,  are perfect reminders that having an advanced business degree is not required for successful entrepreneurship.  I recently saw a quote from Steve Jobs, that said, “Everything around you that you call ‘life’ was made up by people (who) are no smarter than you—and you can change it, you can influence it…And once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”

3. Sales is the Key to Success. I too have been the primary rainmaker for years and I really, really suck at sales.  But, I have hired folks who collectively cultivate relations with clients every day.  They understand that our clients don’t like being sold to anymore than we like selling.  As Rene put it, our clients’: “really just want someone who will share a cup of coffee and understand their pain, then come up with a solution that doesn’t require even more work. That’s all. “ So well put, don’t you think?

4. You’ve Gotta Get a Plan.  Yes, for years, our team didn’t have any formal business plan either.   We have, in most recent years, prepared comprehensive annual plans but what gets the most use is the one page summary with an annual revenue target and theme agreed upon by the entire team, followed by one or two major initiatives the team agrees to tackle each quarter.

5. Diversify Your Client Base.  This is the one rule that has haunted us for years.  Surprisingly enough, as we enter our 20^th year of business, we are finally making progress on this one!  But for years, as Rene notes; “when an industry giant is your largest client and managers tell colleagues in other departments about you, who’s to complain? Word-of-mouth marketing is always a gift. Sure, we’ve worked with many other large clients, and plenty of small clients too, but our largest client is the one that keeps us in business. We work hard to earn their business again every day.”  I could not have stated it better; it is so true for IDO.

6. Never Work for Free.  Well…..we break this one daily!

After twenty years, when I look back on what has been most exciting, it has definitely been our company’s ability to create and discover what works best for us.  And, when you are a little fish in the big open market, swimming against the tide just comes natural.  My prediction for the next twenty and for the next rule we break……

7.  Don’t grow too fast!

On February 14, 1992 Jill Mendoza hung out her shingle and opened  IDO Incorporated. She set up shop in her basement and courageously went to work offering specialized design services not available from anyone else. From this modest beginning she has grown the company’s reputation through responsiveness, accountability and creativity.

What other benchmarks happened in 1992? A look back reveals:

• Superbowl XXVI was won by the Washington Redskins.
• Bill Clinton was elected President.
• The Mall of America was built.
• Euro Disney opened in France.
• The European Union was created.
• The Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain
• A gallon of gas cost $1.05
• Popular musicians included Nirvana, Mariah Carey and the Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Popular films included Aladin, the Bodyguard and A Few Good Men

Many changes have occurred over the years but the heart of IDO beats stronger than ever.

In 2006 IDO moved into its’ current home which was the city’s first LEED certified building. Our dedicated team of 10 Associates IDO has carved a unique niche and developed a rich service offering in Interior Design and Move Management that defines our Brand. We are blessed with wonderful clients and lasting relationships with Industry professionals.

Congratulations to Jill and the IDO team on your 20^th Anniversary!

I recently stayed at a new kind of Starwood Hotel in Baltimore, MD.  Inspired by Starwood Resorts, Element Hotel “Encourages renewal through a nature-influenced environment. Intuitively constructed with an efficient use of space, Elements helps you stay connected, feel alive and thrive…”  while you are away from home.

The Element’s philosophy is simple:  help “you to achieve a sense of balance……By stimulating the senses and soothing the spirit” The hotel hopes to provide each guest with a way of relaxing and refreshing the whole person.   This concept tries to provide the amenities a guest would normally receive at a much more expensive and exclusive spa or resort.

In April 2008, Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide declared that all Element Hotels will pursue the USGBC LEED certification. This step recognized the company as the first major hotel brand to commit to green certification.  Since this time, the hotel has created a map for developers to simplify the LEED process to design a cost-effective property and a more sustainable future with an initial investment recouped in a few years.  And, each hotel is committed to providing cleaner, healthier, and sustainable guest spaces.

A few of the sustainable features in each guest room includes:

• Energy Star appliances
• Low VOC paint and finishes on all wood furniture
• Sofa cushions constructed of soy
• Art mounted on recycled tires
• Oversize windows for more natural lighting and sightlines to the outdoors
• Eco friendly bed headboard
• 3 way CFL and LED lighting
• Soap and shampoo dispenser at sinks and shower/bath
• “Do Not Disturb” environmentally-friendly magnet to replace the traditional paper tag
• Guests driving hybrid cars are rewarded with priority hotel parking
• The entire campus is smoke free

A few of the cleaner and healthier features for each guest includes:

• Filtered drinking water in each guest room
• 24/7 fitness center to with cardio machines and strength training equipment
• Explore the outdoors with the use of a complimentary bicycle
• Signature Heavenly bed which can be quickly adjusted to fit your particular body needs
• Fresh hot complimentary breakfast consisting of breakfast wraps, granola and fresh fruit and smoothies
• Gourmet self service specialty food shop that is open 24/7. Guests can choose healthy treat and snacks as well as regional specialties.

Elements is not in every city, in fact there are only 9 locations scattered in the United States.  I would suggest one if you ever get the opportunity………….and visit their website for more details.

 The Jan. 30 – Feb. 5^th 2012 IBJ (Indianapolis Business Journal) published an Opinion from Sheila Suess Kennedy a professor of law and public policy at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI that; simply gives a new meaning to having a bad hair day!   In Ms. Kennedy’s Opinion, “Confront the shampoo girls at your peril”, she describes angry hairdressers brandishing scissors at the Statehouse to protest recent efforts to de-regulate Professional licensing laws that impact their profession.  Unfortunately the remarks and references she makes regarding the Interior Design Profession are just NOT accurate. 

In response to Sheila Suess Kennedy’s opinion on professional licensing laws, please allow the following to correct and clarify the statements Ms. Kennedy made in reference to Interior Designers. 

First the incorrect statement: “Most of the rules are the result of lobbying efforts by the occupational groups being regulated.  The result is that Indiana – like many other states- requires that workers be licensed before they can shampoo or braid your hair, hypnotize or decorate your family room.”

Correction: In Indiana, you do not need a license to decorate a family room.  Indiana’s Interior Design Legislation does not regulate or restrict the practice of interior design.  Nor does it restrict someone from using the title of interior designer or interior decorator.

Second, the clarification; what Indiana’s Interior Design Legislation (HB # 1573 effect date 7-1-2008) does do; it established an Interior Design Registry.  The Interior Design Registry model is in fact a tool that Ms. Kennedy refers to as “other means of protecting consumers in lower-risk situations” that is more cost effective than license legislation.  In fact, the revenues generated from the Interior Design Registry go directly to the State’s general fund.  So any cost associated with the management of the registry is funded by the fees collected by those professionals that use the registry.  In other words the registry is, cost neutral.  The qualifications and/or certifications required to use the Interior Design Registry, are administered by professional organizations, the government isn’t involved and the taxpayers don’t pay any administrative costs, but the consumers have the benefit of information about a professionals training and expertise.

Ms. Kennedy states:”It is easier to stop change than to effect it. & There are a couple of lessons here, for those interested in reality, rather than the ideologies of Right or Left.” 

Please note; my intent with this is NOT to stop change, and I am interested in reality.  I just want to make sure that Ms. Kennedy’s reality is based upon truthful and factual information.  I also want to educate those who are interested, and redirect those who are misinformed, like Ms. Kennedy, who continue to use the Interior Design Profession as a poster child for unnecessary government regulation.

This is simply an OLD argument that no longer applies to our state.  In Indiana, our profession and our legislative leadership worked very hard to create that “other means of protecting consumers” that Ms. Kennedy talks about and we did it in a professional, responsible and cost effective manner.  So I guess I should say “Thank you” to Ms. Kennedy for giving me an opportunity to provide accurate and factual information about Indiana’s Interior Design Law.

With the Super Bowl just ten (10) days away, what a better time to blog about the importance and dynamics of a super TEAM than right now.  Everyday, I receive extremely educational e-mails on how to build a better mouse trap … from team building to teamwork.  It just so happens that I just read one authored by John Murphy, who wrote a book entitled “Pulling Together … The 10 Rules for High Performance Teams”.  To actually read “The 10 Rules” in great detail, you’ll have to purchase John Murphy’s book but to give you a sneak peak / wet your appetite of what Mr. Murphy covers in his book, here is a list of ‘The 10 Rules’ that make up a SUPER TEAM:

1. Put the team first
2. Communicate openly and candidly
3. Be a part of the solution, not the problem
4. Respect diversity
5. Ask & encourage the right questions
6. Use a rational problem solving process
7. Build trust with integrity and example
8. Commit to excellence
9. Promote Interdependent thinking
10. Pull the weeds

Do you think the New York Giants and the New England Patriots followed all 10 Rules; some of the rules or none of them to be the NFC and AFC Champs, respectively … seeing that both teams battled all season long and did what it took to get them to the apex of the National Football League’s big dance, I would venture to guess that they both followed all 10 Rules very closely and meticulously to make it there! 

What makes a Super Bowl Team such a High Performance Team?  At the beginning of every season, the head coach passionately identifies a common goal for his team; and that is to get to and win the Super Bowl.  But in order to make that goal a reality, it’s going to take a group of guys with a common purpose and a singular mission … that means checking their enormous egos at the door and realizing that it takes each and everyone of them pulling together to achieve their ultimate goal.  As cliché- ish as this may sound, no one (individual) person is greater than the sum of the whole (team).

High Performance Teams understand that diversity does and will crop up during a lengthy football season … and when the going gets tough, effective team players rise to the occasion and overcome the adversity they may face.  It is here where the unique strength of some of the team members willingly takes up the slack and burden of their weaker teammates to help guide their team to the pinnacle of becoming the divisional and conference champs … with the aim of winning the big one. 

The other key factors that make a Team ~ Super are cooperation, synergy and sharing … both the successes and failures.  In other words, they completely buy into the philosophy of ,  “We win as a team and we lose as team.”

In an excerpt from John Murphy’s Pulling Together book, he states, “To embrace the team-first rule, make sure your team purpose and priorities are clear.  What is your overall mission?  What is your game plan? What is expected of each team member?  How can each team member contribute most effectively?  What constants will hold a team together?  Then stop and ask yourself, are you putting the team first?” 

 To obtain more information about Mr. Murphy’s awesome book, please click on the above Pulling Together link.

In closing, I want to thank our Super IDO Team for pulling together as a solid team while preparing for and completing a Request For Proposal for a potential large upcoming project for our firm … I am very proud to say that this recent RFP experience was just one example of where our TEAM Pulled Together!  And as Henry Ford once said,  “Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.”   Thank you, Henry!

Oh yeah … GO GIANTS!!!!

Image courtesy of John Murphy and Simple Truths .

By: Shannon Spence

Be sure to check out Primary Colours’ upcoming gallery show, Scienceology, Friday, February, 3rd. Artists Jeff Geesa and Ryan Szeszycki collaborative show explores the nature of understanding, of “knowledge”, and the attempt thereof. For more details, including hours and location, visit http://primarycolours.org/blog/

Image used with permission of Primary Colours

I was having dinner with my mom last weekend, and we were talking about her upcoming trip to Hawaii.  Needless to say, she’s very excited to return to Hawaii after having lived there while my dad was in the service.  She is looking forward to visiting the normal tourist spots but commented she can’t wait to visit the hospital where she worked and where I was born.

“I wonder if the debris from the Japanese tsunami will be there yet, I heard it’s making its way across the ocean,” she commented.

Mom’s concern about everything the tsunami swept out to sea — from boats to cars to houses and all the remnants of a civilized society – got me thinking.

How will anyone be able to distinguish the tsunami debris from the 3.5 million tons of trash already swirling around the Pacific Ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)?

The GPGP is composed mainly of plastic.  Plastic drink bottles, plastic fishing nets, plastic shampoo bottles, plastic hard hats, plastic toothbrushes, plastic forks, plastic detergent bottles all come together to create this toxic soup.

The plastic is broken down by sunlight into smaller and smaller pieces.  Unfortunately plastic never completely goes away.  Unlike organic matter it does not decompose.  The small pieces are eaten by birds and fish that mistake the pieces for plankton and other sea life.

Needless to say, this is NOT a good thing for the health of the ecosystem.  Not only are the tiny pieces of plastic not digestible, other toxins are attracted to the plastic pieces and are ingested along with the plastic.

So why not just clean it up?

Easier said than done.

The GPGP is a moving target estimated to be up to twice the size of Texas, yet not evenly distributed.  It isn’t the floating mass of trash we might think.

Most of the debris is microscopic in size and is found in the same areas as marine life.  It isn’t the floating landfill image we have in our mind.  Skimming for the debris would also collect marine life.

The Pacific Ocean covers 30% of the Earth’s surface.  Surveying 1% of the Ocean would take 68 ships working 10 hours a day an entire year to complete.  Daunting? Yes.  Costly? Yes.  Likely?  Probably not, just think of the carbon emissions that would create.

What can I do about this?

Even though the situation seems overwhelming, we can all make a difference.  Each American is responsible for ~15.13 pounds of plastic making its way into the world’s oceans every year.  What if each of us reduced that amount?  That wouldn’t be taking anything out of our oceans, but it also wouldn’t be adding to the problem.

Here are some easy things to try:

• Reusable drink bottles—a reusable water bottle keeps as many as 167 single-use bottles from entering the environment
• Reusable shopping bags—sea life mistake plastic shopping bags as jelly fish
• Reusing plastic bags for lunch foods—better yet don’t use them at all
• Compostable dog waste bags
• Remind others to reduce, reuse and recycle

What are some other ideas you have to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle?

Visit these sources for more information on the GPGP:

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/ocean-bound-plastic-interview.html

http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/crowd-sourcing-solutions-to-plastic-filled-oceans.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4XzfR0FE8&feature=player_embedded

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/plastic.html

So I’ll ask the obvious question…why do we want to buy outdated old 100 watt technology anyway when there are so many other better alternatives?  Truly, it’s like going to the nearest Apple store looking for an original version of the iPhone!

What is even more perplexing is how this issue has been portrayed politically.  The trillion-dollar budget bill that Congress passed last month included one of those so-called riders aimed at saving the 100-watt bulb.  I guess what looked like energy efficiency four years ago when President Bush signed the law, looks like oppressive big government now.   Some may have heard Michele Bachmann, the GOP presidential candidate say on her campaign trail this past year: “Let me tell you, President Bachmann will allow you to buy any light bulb you want in the United States of America.”  Well, we see how far she got…..

Getting back to the bright idea….while you won’t be required to throw out your existing bulbs, when you do go to purchase new bulbs you will find many great energy-efficient options, such as Halogen, CFL and LED light bulbs.  One excellent website you should visit before you head out for those new bulbs is the GE Lighting site.

No political stuff here just good factual information that helps you separate the real from the sensational.  Good information for good solutions.

Signing off Brightly:

Jill Mendoza